From amongst the affairs that are widespread and distributed by those who have limited comprehension of the Methodology of the Salaf, is the claim that refutations and appraisals are a form of backbiting the people, or that names do not need to be mentioned in refutations, or that it is a waste of time, or indeed that it is useless for the common folk….amongst a whole selection of alternative arguments deployed to confuse and bewilder those who unfortunately find themselves lending an ear to such speech – we pray they are enlightened in understanding the reality of affairs.

The objective here is to present a solitary narration from Yahya bin Sa’eed regarding the affair of refutations and appraisals; a narration that will depict the importance of this matter, and the incumbent responsibility.

Abu Bakr ibn Khallad said, “I entered upon Yahya ibn Sa’eed in his final illness and so he said to me, “Oh Aba Bakr! What have you left the people of Basra saying?” [i.e. what was there state of affairs and speech regarding me?].

I replied, “They mention good concerning you…except that they fear upon you due to your speech about people”.

Yahya ibn Sa’eed replied, “Memorise this from me!….That I have one from amongst the general people as my adversary in the Hereafter, is more beloved to me than to have the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم as my adversary on that Day saying to me, “A particular Hadith reached you from me, and in your consideration it was not authentic from me, yet you did not reject and refute that affair?”.

Narrations that emphasise the point of importance of refutations are great in number, yet the people feign blindness Allahul Musta’an.

We pray that Allah makes us from those who accept the truth when it reaches us, and not be from those who are blinded by love for their groups and leaders to the extent that they oppose the Methodology of the Salaf in making excuses and sorrowful cries of oppression. The truth is more beloved to us walhamdulillah.